CONTENTS

Cyprus is ready to handle massive evacuation and temporary
accommodation for people due to the situation in Egypt, said Wednesday
Interior Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis.

Speaking to CNA, Sylikiotis said that his Ministry in coordination with
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Coordinating Committee
responsible for handling emergency situations, are trying to provide
facilities to European citizens and third country nationals to return
home, using Cyprus as transit point.

He explained that Cyprus was tested in the past with great success, in
2006 crisis in Lebanon.

Cyprus is now better prepared than in 2006 with better infrastructure
in Civil Defense issues and general procedures, he said.

Sylikiotis added that so far 321 people have passed through Larnaca
airport to travel to other countries, while some are hosted in Cyprus
until their return to their home countries, with the responsibility of
their diplomatic missions.

The Minister also explained that Cyprus is in direct contact with the
European Union and will ask for EU financial and other support if
necessary.

He added that EU support will also be necessary in case of mass refugee
waves from Egypt, reiterating Cyprus request for more equal
distribution of refugees across EU member-states.

Meanwhile, as the political situation in Egypt continues to be
volatile, three more Cypriot families, comprising 12 persons residing
in Egypt, have expressed their intention to be repatriated if things
take a turn for the worse.

Andreas Zenonos, head of consular affairs at the Foreign Ministry, told
CNA on Wednesday that Cypriot embassy officials in Cairo would contact
the families concerned.

He expressed the readiness of the embassy to provide them with any
information or help needed in case they finally decide to return to
Cyprus.

Zenonos said that the embassy of Cyprus in Cairo had also been
contacted by a UN official who was on holidays in Egypt with his
family, asking for help to come back to the island.

He said that 14 Cypriots and two foreign nationals living in Cyprus
returned yesterday, via Athens, to Larnaka Airport from Egypt where
they were, while another 8 Cypriots decided to stay in Athens.

He noted that the travel advice issued by the Foreign Ministry asking
those wishing to travel to Egypt not to do so is still valid, since the
situation remains critical.

Zenonos clarified that the Cypriot embassy in Cairo is operating
normally and is at the disposal of Cypriots in Egypt for any
information or help they might need.

He also said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in contact with
the Cyprus embassy in Cairo to better manage the whole situation.

In the past few days Cyprus has received, as it has done on previous
occasions during regional conflicts, foreign national who had fled war
zones.

The President and the Government of Panama have expressed their sincere
wish for a prompt solution of the Cyprus problem for the sake of all
Cypriots and peace, according to the relevant United Nations
resolutions.

Speaking at a formal ceremony at the Presidential Palace during which
she presented her credentials to Cyprus President Demetris Christofias,
the new Ambassador of the Republic of Panama to Cyprus, stationed in
Athens, Felicia Dushka Papadimitriu B said that ``we hope to foster
further collaboration between our countries in many areas like
education, culture, science, the environment, trade, tourism, arts,
technology, seamanship and sports, through different means, such as
scholarships and exchange programs in these fields.``

She noted that ``since Panama is a maritime nation, as Cyprus, we give
high priority to all merchant marine related issues, since we
understand as well the importance of this industry for the
international commerce. Therefore, we greatly value our merchant marine
fleet and the trust that the international shipping community has
honoured our flag with.``

On his part, President Christofias referred to the ongoing UN-led
negotiations which started in September 2008, aiming to solve the
Cyprus problem, noting that ``unfortunately, during these
two-and-a-half years, many of the proposals submitted by the Turkish
Cypriot leadership, in full cooperation with Ankara, were not
consistent with the agreed basis.`` ``Despite some important
convergences on three of the seven negotiating chapters (Governance and
Power-Sharing, European Matters and the Economy), serious divergences
remain, while some chapters have barely been touched. In July 2010, we
proposed a package in an effort to speed up the process, including the
linkage of interrelated chapters (Property, Territory and Settlers).
Unfortunately, this was rejected by the Turkish side,`` he noted.

Cypriot Finance Minister Charilaos Stavrakis said the government
follows a responsible financial policy which is endorsed by the
European Commission, warning that in the coming months Cyprus may face
``challenges and difficulties.``

Speaking after a meeting of the Financial Advisory Committee, composed
of former Finance Ministers, the Central Bank Governor, Ministers of
Commerce and Labour, as well as trade unions, Stavrakis said he
outlined the economy`s improved fiscal indices, as a result of the
acceleration of the economy and government measures.

On January 26 the European Commission announced that Cyprus has ``taken
action representing adequate progress towards the correction of the
excessive deficit within the time limits set by the Council.`` adding
that ``no further steps in the excessive deficit procedure are needed
at present.``

Cyprus` 2010 budget deficit is expected to close with 5.3% below the 6%
of GDP target set by the Commission, whereas the 2011 deficit is
projected to drop further below 4% of GDP as opposed to the 4.5% target
set by the Commission. The fiscal correction came as a result of
increased growth rate at the fourth quarter of 2010, cuts in state
expenditure, as well as fiscal measures. The government aims at further
reducing the deficit below 2.5% in 2012, whereas the Commission target
is a deficit below the 3% reference value.

On his part, Central Bank Governor Athanasios Orphanides called for
significant steps within the next two months to avert or to limit
further the downgrading of the Cypriot economy by rating agencies. He
also called for concrete steps that would address Cyprus structural
problems such as the pension scheme.

Cyprus ranks first among European countries in employing foreign
nationals in its football clubs, as a ratio to local players, a recent
survey by the Professional Football Players Observatory concludes.

According to a press release issued by the Pancyprian Footballers
Association, the PFPO survey shows that 72,3% of the players competing
in Cypriot teams are foreign nationals. Players of Cypriot teams also
have the highest age average in Europe, with the mean age standing at
28,02 years.

The findings of the survey, titled Demographic study of footballers in
Europe are based on a census of 13.108 footballers, currently playing
for 534 clubs in 36 top division leagues of UEFA member national
associations.

According to PFA, the study confirms the Associations concerns on the
future of football players in Cyprus and of the course of football in
general.

Findings also show that England follows Cyprus in the second place,
with 58,4% of its players being foreign nationals. It is noted that 61%
of the latter are international players.